2024 All-Ireland winner Connaire Mackin has transferred to Australian club Wolfe Tones. It’s unlikely he’ll play any role for Armagh in the upcoming season.

Mackin left for down under during the club championship, having featured during the group stages for Shane O’Neill’s. He missed out on their run to the semi-finals of the Intermediate Championship.

Mackin started Armagh’s famous All-Ireland final victory over Galway in 2024 when the Orchard County claimed Sam Maguire for the second time in their history.

It’s another experienced head leaving the Armagh changing room. Stefan Campbell, Jemar Hall, Mark Shields, Ciaron O’Hanlon and Niall Rowland have all announced their retirements in recent weeks.

Preparations are in place for the upcoming season and a comfortable win over Kildare in a recent challenge game suggests Armagh are in fine fettle heading into the McKenna Cup.

They take on Tyrone in the opening round of the preseason competition on Friday 2 January before locking horns with old rivals Down the following Wednesday night.